Automatic image analysis and capture

ABSTRACT

In general terms, some embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for automatically analyzing and/or capturing an image of a deposit item for use in a deposit transaction. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) generating, by a remote capture device, an image of a deposit item, where the generating the image is based at least partially on the deposit item being exposed to the remote capture device; (b) determining, automatically by the remote capture device, that the image is satisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image, where the deposit item information is associated with the deposit item; and (c) performing, automatically by the remote capture device, a predetermined action, where the performing the predetermined action is based at least partially on the determining that the image is satisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image. In some embodiments, the performing the predetermined action includes capturing, automatically by the remote capture device, the image of the deposit item. In other embodiments, the performing the predetermined action includes prompting, automatically by the remote capture device, a user of the remote capture device to capture the image. In some embodiments, the method occurs in substantially real-time and/or while the deposit item is being exposed to the remote capture device.

BACKGROUND

Today, most financial institutions require their customers to visittraditional deposit locations, such as banking centers, automated tellermachines (ATMs), and the like, in order to deposit checks, money orders,and/or other deposit items. However, traveling to and from a traditionaldeposit location in order to make a deposit is increasingly viewed byfinancial institution customers as burdensome, time-consuming, andwasteful. Thus, there is a need to provide methods and apparatuses thatenable financial institution customers to engage in deposit transactionsin ways that are easier, more efficient, and less costly than the waysdisclosed in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In general terms, various embodiments of the present invention aredirected to using a remote capture device (e.g., mobile phone having adigital camera, flatbed scanner, etc.) to engage in a deposittransaction without having to travel to a traditional deposit location(e.g., banking center, ATM, etc.). For example, some embodiments of thepresent invention provide a method that includes: (a) generating, by aremote capture device, an image of a deposit item, where the generatingthe image is based at least partially on the deposit item being exposedto the remote capture device; (b) determining, automatically by theremote capture device, that the image is satisfactory for readingdeposit item information from the image, where the deposit iteminformation is associated with the deposit item; and (c) performing,automatically by the remote capture device, a predetermined action,where the performing the predetermined action is based at leastpartially on the determining that the image is satisfactory for readingdeposit item information from the image.

As another example, some embodiments of the present invention provide anapparatus that includes: (a) an image capture device configured togenerate an image of a deposit item, where the image capture devicegenerating the image is based at least partially on the deposit itembeing exposed to the image capture device; and (b) a processoroperatively connected to the image capture device and configured to: (i)receive the image; (ii) automatically determine that the image issatisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image, wherethe deposit item information is associated with the deposit item; and(iii) automatically perform a predetermined action, where the processorautomatically performing the predetermined action is based at leastpartially on the processor determining that the image is satisfactoryfor reading deposit item information from the image.

As still another example, some embodiments of the present inventionprovide a computer program product having a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium includes one or more computer-executableprogram code portions that, when executed by a remote capture device,cause the remote capture device to: (a) generate an image that of adeposit item, where the remote capture device generates the image basedat least partially on the deposit item being exposed to the remotecapture device; (b) automatically determine that the image issatisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image, wherethe deposit item information is associated with the deposit item; and(c) automatically perform a predetermined action, where the remotecapture device performing the predetermined action is based at leastpartially on the remote capture device determining that the image issatisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image.

As another example, some embodiments of the present invention provide amethod that includes: (a) generating, by a remote capture device, animage of a deposit item, where the generating the image is based atleast partially on the deposit item being exposed to the remote capturedevice; (b) determining, automatically by the remote capture device,that the image is not satisfactory for reading deposit item informationfrom the image, where the deposit item information is associated withthe deposit item; and (c) performing, automatically by the remotecapture device, a predetermined action, where the performing thepredetermined action is based at least partially on the determining thatthe image is not satisfactory for reading deposit item information fromthe image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described some embodiments of the present invention ingeneral terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGS. 1-3 is a flow diagram illustrating a general process flow forautomatically analyzing and/or capturing an image of a deposit item, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a general process flow forautomatically analyzing and/or capturing an image of a deposit item foruse in a deposit transaction, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating technical components of a systemfor automatically analyzing and/or capturing an image of a deposit item,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a mixed block and flow diagram illustrating a system forautomatically analyzing and capturing an image of a check for use in adeposit transaction, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In general terms, various embodiments of the present invention aredirected to using a remote capture device (e.g., mobile phone having adigital camera, flatbed scanner, etc.) to engage in a deposittransaction without having to travel to a traditional deposit location(e.g., banking center, ATM, etc.). More specifically, some embodimentsprovide a remote capture device that is configured to: (a) generate animage of a deposit item based at least partially on the remote capturedevice being exposed to the deposit item; (b) automatically determinewhether the image is satisfactory for reading deposit item information(e.g., deposit amount, payee name, etc.) from the image; (c)automatically prompt the user of the remote capture device to repositionand/or adjust the remote capture device if the image is notsatisfactory; (d) automatically capture the image if the image issatisfactory; and/or (e) send the captured image of the deposit item toa deposit server so that an account can be credited based at leastpartially on the deposit item information read from the image. In someembodiments, the remote capture device is configured to perform theseactions in substantially real-time and/or while the deposit item isbeing exposed to the remote capture device.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a general process flow 100 is provided forautomatically analyzing and/or capturing an image of a deposit item, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In someembodiments, the process flow 100 is performed by a remote capturedevice (e.g., a mobile phone having a digital camera housed therein,etc.) having hardware and/or software configured to perform one or moreportions of the process flow 100. In such embodiments, as represented byblock 110, the remote capture device is configured to generate an imageof a deposit item, where the generating the image is based at leastpartially on the deposit item being exposed to the remote capturedevice. Then, as represented by blocks 120-130, the remote capturedevice is configured to automatically determine whether the image issatisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image.

If the remote capture device having the process flow 100 determines thatthe image is satisfactory, then the remote capture device automaticallyperforms a predetermined action, as represented by block 140 shown inFIG. 2. More specifically, the remote capture device may: (a)automatically capture the image of the deposit item, as represented byblock 140A; (b) automatically prompt a user of the remote capture deviceto capture the image by using the remote capture device (e.g., one ormore user inputs of the remote capture device, etc.), as represented byblock 140B; (c) automatically indicate to the user that the image issatisfactory, as represented by block 140C; and/or (d) automaticallyperform one or more other predetermined actions, as represented by block140D.

On the other hand, if the remote capture device having the process flow100 determines that the image is not satisfactory for reading deposititem information from the image, then the remote capture deviceautomatically performs one or more predetermined actions, as representedby block 150 shown in FIG. 3. More specifically, the remote capturedevice may: (a) automatically adjust the remote capture device (e.g.,adjust the focus and/or zoom of the remote capture device, activate alight and/or flash of the remote capture device, etc.), as representedby block 150A; (b) automatically prompt the user of the remote capturedevice to adjust the remote capture device, as represented by block150B; (c) automatically prompt the user to reposition the remote capturedevice relative to the deposit item and/or vice versa, as represented byblock 150C; (d) automatically enhance (e.g., crop, orient, size, focus,scale, shape, color, etc.) the image of the deposit item, as representedby block 150D; (e) automatically prompt the user to enhance the image,as represented by block 150E; (f) automatically indicate to the userthat the image is not satisfactory for reading deposit item informationfrom the image, as represented by block 150F; and/or (g) automaticallyperform one or more other predetermined actions, as represented by block150G. It will be understood that the predetermined action(s) performedby the remote capture device when the image is not satisfactory may bedifferent than predetermined actions performed when the image issatisfactory.

For simplicity, the portions of the process flow 100 represented byblocks 120-130 are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the“image quality determination.” Also, it will be understood that, in someembodiments, the term “determine” is meant to have its one or moreordinary meanings (i.e., its ordinary dictionary definition(s)), but inother embodiments, that term is additionally or alternatively meant toinclude the one or more ordinary meanings of one or more of thefollowing terms: conclude, decide, identify, ascertain, find, discover,learn, verify, calculate, observe, read, and/or the like. Further, itwill be understood that, in some embodiments, the phrase “based at leastpartially on” is meant to have its one or more ordinary meanings, but inother embodiments, that phrase is additionally or alternatively meant toinclude the one or more ordinary meanings of one or more of thefollowing phrases: “in response to,” “upon or after,” “because of,” “asa result of,” “if,” “when,” and/or the like.

It will also be understood that the remote capture device having theprocess flow 100 (and/or any of the other apparatuses described and/orcontemplated herein) can include one or more separate and/or differentapparatuses. In some embodiments, a first portion of the remote capturedevice is configured to perform one or more portions of the process flow100, and one or more other portions of the same remote capture deviceare configured to perform the one or more other portions of the processflow 100. For example, in some embodiments, one portion (e.g., the imagecapture device 528 of the remote capture device 520 shown in FIG. 5,etc.) is configured to perform the portion of the process flow 100represented by block 110, and a second portion (e.g., the processor 524of the remote capture device 520, etc.) is configured to perform theportions represented by blocks 120-150. Of course, in other embodiments,a single apparatus (e.g., the image capture device 528, the processor524, etc.) is configured to perform each and every portion of theprocess flow 100. Also, it will be understood that, in some embodiments,the remote capture device 100 is embodied as two or more remote capturedevices that are, for example, operatively connected to each other.

Regarding block 110, the phrase “remote capture device,” as used herein,refers to an apparatus that is configured to generate, create, acquire,receive, view, and/or capture one or more still images and/or videos(collectively referred to herein as “images” for simplicity). In someembodiments, the remote capture device refers to an apparatus thathouses one or more digital cameras, image sensors, lens, and/or otherimage capture devices. For example, in some embodiments, the remotecapture device refers to a mobile phone having a digital camera housedtherein. However, in other embodiments, the remote capture device refersto the image capture device itself. Referring to the example above, inaccordance with some embodiments, the remote capture device refers tothe digital camera that is housed in the mobile phone. As a variation ofthis example, in still other embodiments, the remote capture devicerefers to a digital camera that is not housed in the mobile phone, butis instead located adjacent, near, and/or otherwise proximate to themobile phone (e.g., located within arm's reach of the mobile phone,etc.) and is operatively connected to (e.g., via wireline and/orwireless connection) the mobile phone. Thus, it will be understood thatthe remote capture device can be embodied as an apparatus (e.g., amobile phone that houses a digital camera, etc.), as a component of theapparatus (e.g., a digital camera housed in a mobile phone, etc.), or asa peripheral device associated with the apparatus (e.g., a digitalcamera operatively connected to and located proximately to a mobilephone, etc.). Additionally, in some embodiments, the phrase “remotecapture device” refers to a system having a remote capture device and aperipheral image capture device operatively connected to the remotecapture device.

In addition, it will also be understood that the remote capture deviceis so named because it is typically located remotely from a traditionaldeposit location, such as, for example, a financial institution, abanking center, teller terminal, an ATM, and/or the like. Instead, theremote capture device is typically located in a home, an office, on aperson, and/or remotely from a traditional deposit location. Inaddition, because a remote capture device is configured to perform theprocess flow 100, the remote capture device enables its user(s) totransform any location where the remote capture device is located into adeposit location. It will also be understood that the remote capturedevice is typically owned, operated, serviced, held, carried, possessed,controlled, and/or maintained (collectively referred to herein as“maintained” for simplicity) by a customer of a financial institution.

Examples of remote capture devices include, but are not limited to,mobile phones (e.g., feature phones, smart phones, camera phones, etc.),cameras (e.g., digital cameras, video cameras, webcams, etc.), scanners(e.g., flatbed scanners, handheld scanners, etc.), personal digitalassistants (PDAs), tablet computers (e.g., iPads®, etc.), gaming devices(e.g., Nintendo® DSi, Xbox 360® with Kinect sensor device, etc.),portable media players (e.g., iPods®, etc.), image capture devices(e.g., cameras, charge coupled devices (CCD), complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, other image sensors, etc.), aswell as, in some embodiments, one or more components thereof and/or oneor more peripheral devices associated therewith. Of course, it will beunderstood that, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to perform one or more other functions (e.g., sending and/orreceiving one or more phone calls, text messages, and/or othercommunications, etc.) in addition to generating and/or capturing one ormore images. It will be further understood that, in some embodiments,the remote capture device refers to a wireline, non-portable,non-mobile, and/or non-handheld device, such as, for example, a flatbedscanner and/or a webcam. However, in other embodiments, the remotecapture device refers to a wireless, portable, mobile, and/or handhelddevice, such as, for example, a handheld scanner and/or mobile phone.

Further regarding block 110, the phrase “deposit item,” as used herein,generally refers to one or more checks (e.g., personal checks, businesschecks, cashier's checks, credit card convenience checks, etc.), moneyorders, deposit slips, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the“deposit item” refers to two or more deposit items and/or to two or moredifferent types of deposit items. Although many of the embodimentsdescribed herein are directed to automatically analyzing and/orcapturing images of deposit items for use in deposit transactions, itwill be understood that some embodiments of the present invention can beimplemented to automatically analyze and/or capture images of otheritems (e.g., barcodes, receipts, official records, etc.) for otherpurposes (e.g., price checks, online banking, opening accounts, userauthentication and/or identification, etc.).

Also regarding block 110, the remote capture device generates the imageof the deposit item based at least partially on the remote capturedevice being exposed to the deposit item. In some embodiments, thismeans that the remote capture device is positioned proximate and/orrelative to the deposit item, such that light from the deposit item isphysically received by the remote capture device. For example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device includes a photographic lens andan image sensor, and the image sensor is configured to generate an imageof the deposit item based at least partially on light from the deposititem passing through the lens, reaching the image sensor, and beingconverted into electrical signals by the image sensor. It will beunderstood that the remote capture device can be configured to generateone or more still images of the deposit item and/or a series of videoimages of the deposit item. For example, in some embodiments, the remotecapture device is configured to generate a video of the deposit item,where the image referred to in block 110 represents one of the imagesfrom the video. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, theremote capture device has a video feedback function, such that a user ofthe remote capture device can view (e.g., via a display of the remotecapture device) the video images of the deposit item as the userpositions the remote capture device (and/or an image capture devicethereof) relative to the deposit item.

Further regarding block 110, the image of the deposit item may show thefront and/or back of one or more deposit items. In some embodiments, theimage may not show the deposit item in its entirety. For example, insome embodiments, the image may show only 75% of the front of thedeposit item, whereas, in other embodiments, the image shows 100% of theback of the deposit item. In some embodiments, the image only shows theinformation needed to make the image quality determination.

Regarding blocks 120-130, the remote capture device can be configured tomake the image quality determination in any way. In some embodiments,the remote capture device is configured to make the image qualitydetermination based at least partially on whether the remote capturedevice itself can read the deposit item information from the image.However, in other embodiments, the remote capture device is configuredto determine whether another apparatus (e.g., a deposit server, etc.)and/or a human can read deposit item information from the image. As usedherein, the term “read” is meant to have its ordinary meaning (i.e., itsordinary dictionary definition) in addition to the one or more ordinarymeanings of the following terms: discover, learn, calculate, identify,observe, decide, determine, collect, conclude, verify, ascertain, and/orthe like.

In addition, the terms “satisfactory” and “unsatisfactory,” as usedherein, typically refer to the quality of the image (and/or to one ormore portions of the image), as determined by the remote capture device.For example, the remote capture device can be configured to determinethat the image is unsatisfactory based at least partially on the remotecapture device determining that the image (and/or one or more portionsof the image) is upside down, unfocused, blurry, distorted, discolored,darkened, too small, and/or otherwise unreadable, either to the remotecapture device and/or to another apparatus and/or human. In someembodiments, the remote capture device is configured to determine thatthe image is satisfactory if the image does not show the deposit item inits entirety (i.e., the deposit item is “cut off” in the image). In someembodiments, the absence of one or more of these conditions can triggerthe remote capture device to determine that the image is satisfactory.

Further regarding blocks 120-130, the deposit item information can beany information that describes, identifies, defines, and/or is otherwiseassociated with the deposit item referred to in block 110. In someembodiments, the deposit item information includes any information shownon the deposit item itself, such as, for example, information associatedwith a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line, endorsement,signature, watermark, account number, payee identity, payor identity,financial institution identity, deposit amount, and/or the like.However, in other embodiments, the deposit item information additionallyor alternatively includes information associated with the appearance(e.g., size, shape, color, texture, etc.) of the deposit item, the typeof the deposit item (e.g., business check, money order, etc.), thenumber of deposit items (i.e., the number of the deposit items shown inthe image), and/or the like.

As referred to herein, it will be understood that a MICR line is a lineof characters having a standardized font (e.g., E-13B and CMC-7),location, and size that is typically printed in magnetic ink and/ortoner at and/or near the bottom of a deposit item. For example, somecountries, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia,Columbia, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom, have adopted E-13B as thestandardized font for the MICR line, while other countries, such asBrazil, France, and several other European countries, have adopted CMC-7as the standardized font for the MICR line. In the United States, thestandards for the MICR line are developed and mandated by the AmericanNational Standards Institute (ANSI). In many instances, the charactersin the MICR line include a routing number and an account number that canbe used to identify the payor bank and the payor's bank account at thepayor bank from which the funds will be drawn.

Also regarding the blocks 120-130, in some embodiments, the remotecapture device is configured to make the image quality determination insubstantially real time. For example, in some embodiments, the remotecapture device is configured to make the image quality determinationwithin moments and/or seconds (e.g., within approximately 5 seconds,etc.) of the remote capture device generating the image and/or beingexposed to the deposit item. Additionally or alternatively, in someembodiments, the remote capture device having the process flow 100 isconfigured to make the image quality determination automatically (i.e.,without human intervention). Of course, the remote capture device can beconfigured to receive (and/or prompt for) at least some deposit iteminformation from the user of the remote capture device. For example, insome embodiments, the remote capture device prompts the user for thedeposit amount shown on the deposit item and/or for the account numberof the account involved in the deposit transaction.

Regarding block 140, as shown in FIG. 2, the remote capture devicehaving the process flow 100 is configured to perform one or more of thepredetermined actions represented by blocks 140A-140D based at leastpartially on the remote capture device determining that the image issatisfactory. It will be understood that the remote capture device canbe configured to perform any one or more of the predetermined actionsrepresented by blocks 140A-140D. In some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to perform the predetermined action(s) withinmoments and/or seconds (e.g., within approximately 5 seconds, etc.) ofmaking the image quality determination and/or generating the image.Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to perform the predetermined action(s)automatically (i.e., without human intervention). Thus, it will beunderstood that the remote capture device can be configured to performthe one or more predetermined actions automatically, dynamically, and/orin substantially real-time.

As represented by block 140A, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to automatically capture the image of the deposititem based at least partially on the remote capture device determiningthat the image is satisfactory. In some embodiments where the remotecapture device includes a shutter, the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically actuate the shutter to capture the image. Inother embodiments, the remote capture device is configured toautomatically activate an image capture function of the remote capturedevice (e.g., “click” an image capture button located on the remotecapture device, etc.). In some embodiments, this predetermined action isaccompanied by an output to the user that indicates that the image ofthe deposit item has been captured. For example, in some embodiments,where the remote capture device has a display that shows video of thedeposit item, the display shows a still image of the deposit item uponor after the image being automatically captured by the remote capturedevice. As another example, in some embodiments, the display shows thephrases “IMAGE CAPTURED,” “OK,” and/or the like to indicate to the userthat the image has been captured.

Further regarding block 140A, the remote capture device capturing theimage generally means that the remote capture device stores the image ofthe deposit item in the memory of the remote capture device. In someembodiments, this memory is non-temporary, non-volatile, and/orlong-term persistent memory. Additionally or alternatively, in someembodiments, the image is captured if a user of the remote capturedevice can retrieve the image from the memory of the remote capturedevice sometime after the deposit item is exposed to the remote capturedevice. Of course, it will be understood that the remote capture devicemay not capture every image that it generates. For example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device discards and/or erases generatedimages that are not captured. However, in other embodiments, the remotecapture device does not discard or erase generated images that are notcaptured, but instead identifies and/or stores them differently. Forexample, in some embodiments, the remote capture device stores generatedby not captured images in temporary and/or volatile memory, whereas theremote capture device stores captured images in non-temporary,non-volatile, and/or long-term persistent memory.

Referring to block 1408, in some embodiments, the remote capture deviceis additionally or alternatively configured to automatically prompt theuser of the remote capture device to capture the image of the deposititem based at least partially on the remote capture device determiningthat the image is satisfactory. For example, in some embodiments, theremote capture device outputs one or more audible and/or visual messages(e.g., instructions, recommendations, commands, feedback,communications, etc.) that prompt the user to capture the image.Specifically, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to display a specific capture instruction (e.g., “CAPTURE,”“IMAGE OK,” etc.) on the display of the remote capture device as aresult of the remote capture device determining that the image issatisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image. Asanother example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to audibly output a series of beeps and/or other sounds whenthe remote capture device determines that the image is satisfactory. Asstill another example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to show, on the display of the remote capture device, a greenbox around the deposit item when the remote capture device determinesthat the image is satisfactory.

Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, as represented byblock 140C, the remote capture device is configured to automaticallyindicate to the user of the remote capture device that the image issatisfactory based at least partially on the remote capture devicedetermining that the image is satisfactory. It will be understood thatthe remote capture device indicating to the user that image issatisfactory may also serve to prompt the user to capture the image,and/or vice versa. For example, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to display the word “CAPTURE” on the display of theremote capture device upon determining that the image is satisfactory,which serves to both indicate to the user that the image is satisfactoryand prompt the user to capture the image. However, in some embodiments,the remote capture device is configured to indicate to the user that theimage is satisfactory, even though the remote capture device is alsoconfigured to automatically capture the image.

In addition to the predetermined actions represented by block 140A-C,the remote capture device can be configured to automatically perform oneor more other predetermined actions based at least partially on theremote capture device determining that the image is satisfactory, asrepresented by block 140D. For example, in some embodiments, in additionto automatically capturing the image, the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically send (and/or prompt the user to send) thecaptured image to a deposit server for completing a deposit transaction.As another example, in some embodiments, after the image is captured bythe remote capture device, the remote capture device automatically sendsand/or posts the captured image to an electronic banking service (e.g.,online banking, mobile banking, SMS banking, etc.), where the electronicbanking service is associated with an account held by the remote capturedevice user. As still another example, in some embodiments, after theimage is captured by the remote capture device, the remote capturedevice is configured to automatically store the image in a predeterminedfolder of images (e.g., a folder entitled “Captured Images”) on theremote capture device.

Regarding block 150, as shown in FIG. 3, the remote capture devicehaving the process flow 100 is configured to perform one or more of thepredetermined actions represented by blocks 150A-150G based at leastpartially on the remote capture device determining that the image is notsatisfactory for reading deposit item information from the image. Itwill be understood that the remote capture device can be configured toperform any one or more of the predetermined actions represented byblocks 150A-150G. In some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to perform the predetermined action(s) within moments,seconds, and/or minutes (e.g., within approximately 1 minute, etc.) ofmaking the image quality determination and/or generating the image.Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to perform the predetermined action(s)automatically (i.e., without human intervention). Thus, it will beunderstood that the remote capture device can be configured to performthe one or more predetermined actions automatically, dynamically, and/orin substantially real-time.

As represented by block 150A, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to automatically adjust the remote capture devicebased at least partially on the remote capture device determining thatthe image is not satisfactory. For example, in some embodiments, theremote capture device is configured to automatically adjust the focus ofthe remote capture device. As another example, in some embodiments, theremote capture device is configured to automatically adjust the zoom ofthe remote capture device. As still another example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device is configured to activate a lightand/or flash of the remote capture device. In some embodiments, theremote capture device automatically performs these adjustments in orderto generate a second image of the deposit item, where the second imagerepresents an improvement over the original image and/or where thesecond image is satisfactory for reading deposit item information fromthe second image. In some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically adjust the remote capture device when theremote capture device (a) recognizes and/or detects a deposit item fromthe image, but (b) determines that the image is not satisfactory forreading deposit item information from the image.

Regarding block 150B, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically prompt the user of the remote capture deviceto adjust the remote capture device based at least partially on theremote capture device determining that the image is not satisfactory.For example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device outputs oneor more audible and/or visual messages (e.g., instructions,recommendations, commands, feedback, communications, etc.) that promptthe user to adjust the focus of the remote capture device, adjust thezoom of the remote capture device, activate a light and/or flash of theremote capture device, and/or operate the remote capture device in adifferent way. Specifically, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to display a specific adjusting instruction (e.g.,“ZOOM IN,” “ACTIVATE LIGHT,” etc.) on the display of the remote capturedevice as a result of the remote capture device determining why theimage is not satisfactory and/or how to generate a better image. In someembodiments, the remote capture device prompts the user to adjust theremote capture device so that a second image of the deposit item can begenerated by the remote capture device, where the second imagerepresents an improvement over the original image and/or where thesecond image is satisfactory for reading deposit item information fromthe second image.

Regarding block 150C, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically prompt the user to reposition the remotecapture device relative to the deposit item, and/or vice versa, based atleast partially on the remote capture device determining that the imageis not satisfactory. For example, in some embodiments, the remotecapture device outputs one or more audible and/or visual messages thatprompt the user to, for example, rotate the remote capture device,reorient the remote capture device, and/or move the remote capturedevice up, down, to the left, to the right, towards the deposit item,away from the deposit item, and/or the like. Specifically, in someembodiments, the remote capture device is configured to display aspecific repositioning instruction (e.g., “MOVE LEFT,” “MOVE CLOSER,”“ROTATE CLOCKWISE,” etc.) on the display of the remote capture device asa result of the remote capture device determining why the image is notsatisfactory and/or how to generate a better image. As another example,in some embodiments, the remote capture device is configured to promptthe user to reposition the deposit item relative to the remote capturedevice. For example, in some embodiments, the remote capture deviceoutputs one or more audible and/or visual messages that prompt the userto, for example, turn the deposit item right side up, rotate it 90degrees, move the deposit item so that it is orthogonal to the imagesensor of the remote capture device, and/or the like. In someembodiments, the remote capture device prompts the user to repositionthe remote capture device and/or the deposit item so that a second imageof the deposit item can be generated by the remote capture device, wherethe second image represents an improvement over the original imageand/or where the second image is satisfactory for reading deposit iteminformation from the second image.

In some embodiments, the remote capture device having the process flow100 is configured to determine whether the image is satisfactory and/orto prompt the user by using one or more MICR lines of the deposit itemshown in the image. For example, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured to determine whether the remote capture device(and/or one or more other apparatuses and/or humans) can read one ormore of the MICR lines shown in the image. If not (e.g., because theMICR line(s) are too small, too dark, blurry, etc.), in suchembodiments, the remote capture device can be configured to prompt theuser to reposition the remote capture device (and/or the deposit item)and/or to adjust the remote capture device so that the remote capturedevice can read those one or more MICR lines in a subsequently generatedimage of the deposit item.

As another example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to determine whether a MICR line shown in the image is withina predefined distance from an edge of a deposit item shown in the image.For example, the remote capture device may determine whether the MICRline is within a predefined distance from the bottom edge of the deposititem and/or whether the MICR line is contained within a predefineddistance from any edge of the deposit item. In one exemplary embodiment,the predefined distance is a distance within the range of a half inchand two and a half inches, inclusive, such as, for example, one and ahalf inches. In another embodiment, the predefined distance isapproximately one and a half inches.

Based on determining whether the MICR line is within a predetermineddistance from an edge of the deposit item shown in the image, the remotecapture device having the process flow 100 can be configured todetermine, for example, the orientation of the deposit item shown in theimage. As an example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to determine that a deposit item is “upside down” in theimage (and/or that the image is upside down) based at least partially ondetermining that a MICR line is located near the top of a deposit itemshown in the image. Accordingly, the remote capture device can beconfigured to adjust the remote capture device and/or prompt the user toreposition the remote capture device (and/or the deposit item), suchthat the deposit item is shown “right side up” in a subsequentlygenerated image of the deposit item. In this way, the remote capturedevice can be configured to determine the “top” and “bottom” of adeposit item shown in the image and correct (and/or prompt the user tocorrect) one or more portions of the image (if needed) based at leastpartially on these determination(s). It will also be understood that theremote capture device having the process flow 100 can be configured todetermine what deposit item information is located “above” and “below”the MICR line by determining where the MICR line is relative to an edgeof a deposit item shown in the image.

Regarding block 150D, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically enhance the image of the deposit item basedat least partially on the remote capture device determining that theimage is not satisfactory. As used herein, the term “enhance” generallyrefers to the process of “cleaning up” an image by at least partiallychanging one or more portions of the image. For example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device is configured to enhance an imageby focusing, cropping, orienting, sizing, scaling, shaping, and/orcoloring one or more portions of the image. As other example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device is configured to enhance one ormore portions of the image by creating a bi-tonal image of the one ormore image portions, by correcting the geometry of those portion(s), byconverting those portion(s) to gray-scale, by creating a binarized imageof those portion(s), and/or the like.

It will be understood that the remote capture device can be configuredto enhance the image originally generated by the remote capture device(e.g., the image referred to in block 110) instead of, or in additionto, generating a second image of the deposit item as a result of theuser repositioning and/or adjusting the remote capture device (and/orthe deposit item). Also, the remote capture device can be configured toenhance one or more portions of the image that are unsatisfactory whileleaving alone the one or more other portions of the image that aresatisfactory. Of course, in other embodiments, the remote capture devicecan also be configured to enhance the one or more satisfactory portionsof the image (in the same way or in a different way) before, after, orsubstantially simultaneous with the remote capture device enhancing theone or more unsatisfactory portions of the image.

Also, in some embodiments, the remote capture device can be configuredto enhance the one or more unsatisfactory portions of the image by usingone or more MICR lines shown in the image. For example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device is configured to determinewhether the remote capture device (and/or one or more other apparatusesand/or humans) can read one or more of the MICR lines shown in theimage. If not (e.g., because the MICR line(s) are too small, too dark,blurry, etc.), in such embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to enhance one or more portions of the image (e.g., byenlarging, lightening, focusing those image portions, etc.) until theremote capture device can read those one or more MICR lines from theenhanced image.

As another example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to determine that a deposit item is “upside down” in theimage (and/or that the image is upside down) based at least partially ondetermining that a MICR line is located near the top of a deposit itemshown in the image. In such embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to enhance the portion of the image that shows the upsidedown deposit item (and/or enhance the entire upside down image) bycorrecting the orientation (e.g., by reorienting and/or rotating, etc.)of the unsatisfactory image portion (and/or the entire image). In thisway, the remote capture device can be configured to determine the “top”and “bottom” of a deposit item shown in the image and correct one ormore portions of the image (if needed) based at least partially on thesedetermination(s).

Regarding block 150E, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically prompt the user to enhance the image of thedeposit item based at least partially on the remote capture devicedetermining that the image is not satisfactory. For example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device outputs one or more audibleand/or visual messages that prompt the user to, for example, rotate theimage, lighten the image, focus the image, enlarge the image, color theimage, etc. Specifically, in some embodiments, the remote capture deviceis configured to display a specific enhancing instruction (e.g.,“ENLARGE IMAGE,” “LIGHTEN IMAGE,” etc.) on the display of the remotecapture device as a result of the remote capture device determining whythe image is not satisfactory and/or how to enhance the image. As otherexample, in some embodiments, the user is prompted to enhance one ormore portions of the image by creating a bi-tonal image of the one ormore image portions, by correcting the geometry of those portion(s), byconverting those portion(s) to gray-scale, by creating a binarized imageof those portion(s), and/or the like. In some embodiments, the user ofthe remote capture device can enhance one or more portions of the imageby using one or more user input devices (e.g., buttons, touchscreendisplays, microphones, etc.) of the remote capture device. In someembodiments, the remote capture device prompts the user to enhance theimage until the remote capture device (and/or another apparatus and/orhuman) can read information associated with the deposit item (e.g., MICRline, deposit amount, payee name, etc.) from the image. Also, it will beunderstood that the remote capture device can be configured to promptthe user to enhance the image originally generated by the remote capturedevice (e.g., the image referred to in block 110) instead of, or inaddition to, prompting the user to generate a second image of thedeposit item by repositioning and/or adjusting the remote capture device(and/or the deposit item).

Regarding block 150F, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isadditionally or alternatively configured to automatically indicate tothe user of the remote capture device that the image is not satisfactorybased at least partially on the remote capture device determining thatthe image is not satisfactory. It will be understood that the remotecapture device indicating to the user that image is not satisfactory mayalso serve to prompt the user to adjust and/or reposition the remotecapture device (and/or the deposit item), and/or vice versa. Forexample, in some embodiments, the remote capture device is configured todisplay “DO NOT CAPTURE” on the display of the remote capture deviceupon determining that the deposit item information in the image is notsatisfactory, which serves to both indicate to the user that the imageis not satisfactory and to prompt the user to reposition and/or adjustthe remote capture device (and/or the deposit item). As another example,in some embodiments, the remote capture device is configured to audiblyoutput a series of beeps and/or other sounds when the remote capturedevice determines that the image is not satisfactory. As still anotherexample, in some embodiments, the remote capture device is configured toshow, on the display of the remote capture device, a red box around thedeposit item when the remote capture device determines that the image isnot satisfactory.

In addition to the predetermined actions represented by block 150A-F,the remote capture device can be configured to automatically perform oneor more other predetermined actions based at least partially on theremote capture device determining that the image is not satisfactory.For example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to discard the generated image and/or erase the image frommemory based at least partially on determining that the image is notsatisfactory.

In some embodiments, the remote capture device having the process flow100 can be configured to perform any one or more portions of the processflow 100 represented by blocks 110-150 upon or after one or moretriggering events, which, in some embodiments, is one or more of theother portions of the process flow 100. As used herein, it will beunderstood that a “triggering event” refers to an event thatautomatically triggers the execution, performance, and/or implementationof a triggered action, either immediately, nearly immediately (e.g.,within seconds, within minutes), or sometime after the occurrence of thetriggering event. For example, in some embodiments, the remote capturedevice is configured such that the remote capture device receiving theimage (the triggering event) automatically and immediately triggers theremote capture device to determine whether the image is satisfactory forreading deposit item information from the image (the triggered action).In some embodiments, the remote capture device is additionally oralternatively configured to automatically perform the predeterminedaction (triggered action) nearly immediately after automaticallydetermining that the image is satisfactory (triggering event).

In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured to automaticallyperform one or more of the portions of the process flow 100 representedby blocks 110-150. In other embodiments, one or more of the portions ofthe process flow 100 represented by blocks 110-150 require and/orinvolve at least some human intervention. In addition to the processflow 100, any of the embodiments described and/or contemplated hereincan involve one or more triggering events, triggered actions, automaticactions, apparatus actions, and/or human actions. It will also beunderstood that the apparatus having the process flow 100 can beconfigured to perform any one or more portions of any embodimentdescribed and/or contemplated herein, including, for example, any one ormore portions of the process flows 400 and/or 600 described laterherein. In addition, the number, order, and/or content of the portionsof the process flow 100 are exemplary and may vary. Indeed, the processflow 100, like all of the other process flows described herein, caninclude one or more additional and/or alternative process flow portions.In addition, it will be understood that the remote capture deviceconfigured to perform the process flow 100 can be configured to performone or more additional and/or alternative functions. For example, insome embodiments, before the remote capture device generates the imagerepresented by block 110, the remote capture device outputs one or moreaudible and/or visual messages to the user of the remote capture devicethat instruct the user on how to adjust the remote capture device and/orposition the remote capture device relative to the deposit item (and/orvice versa) in order to generate an image that is likely to besatisfactory. As another example, in some embodiments, the remotecapture device having the process flow 100 is configured to send and/orreceive telephone calls, play video games, organize a calendar, and/orthe like.

Also, it will be understood that the remote capture device having theprocess flow 100 (and/or the process flows 400 and/or 600) can beconfigured to automatically analyze and/or capture the front of adeposit item and/or the back of a deposit item. Specifically, in someembodiments, the remote capture device having the process flow 100 isconfigured to perform the process flow 100 once for the front of adeposit item and then a second time for the back of the deposit item.For example, in some embodiments, the remote capture device isconfigured to generate an image of the front of a check, determine thatthe image is satisfactory for reading check information therefrom,automatically capture the image of the front of the check, prompt theuser of the remote capture device to flip the check over, generate animage of the back of the check, determine that the image is satisfactoryfor reading check information therefrom, automatically capture the imageof the back of the check, and then send both the image of the front ofthe check and the image of the back of the check to a deposit server forcompleting a deposit transaction.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a general process flow 400 is illustrated forautomatically analyzing and capturing an image of a deposit item, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In someembodiments, the process flow 400 represents an example of the processflow 100 described in connection with FIGS. 1-3. Additionally, in someembodiments, the process flow 400 is performed, collectively, by aremote capture device and a deposit server, where each apparatus has thehardware and/or software needed to perform its respective function(s)and/or portion(s) of the process flow 400. In accordance with someembodiments, the remote capture device is operatively connected to, butremotely located from, the deposit server. In addition, in someembodiments, the remote capture device and deposit server referred to inthe process flow 400 are the remote capture device 520 and the depositserver 530, respectively, shown in FIG. 5.

As represented by block 410, a user of the remote capture device enablesan image sensor housed the remote capture device. For example, in someembodiments where the remote capture device is a mobile phone having adigital camera housed therein, the user activates the digital camera ofthe mobile phone (e.g., by initializing the digital camera function,opening a remote capture application, turning on the digital camera,etc.). After the user enables the image sensor, the user positions theremote capture device relative to a deposit item to generate an image,at the remote capture device, of the deposit item, as represented byblock 420. For example, in some embodiments, the user places the deposititem on a flat surface and then holds the remote capture device over thedeposit item, such that the deposit item is exposed to the remotecapture device and/or the image capture device housed therein.

As represented by blocks 120-130 of the process flow 400, the remotecapture device is configured to automatically determine whether theimage of the deposit item is satisfactory for reading deposit iteminformation from the image. If the remote capture device determines thatthe image is satisfactory, then the remote capture device is configuredto automatically prompt the user to capture the image, as represented byblock 140B of the process flow 400. Thereafter, as represented by block430, the user captures the image using the remote capture device, and asrepresented by block 440, the user sends the captured image to a depositserver for completing the deposit transaction. After receiving thecaptured image from the remote capture device, the deposit server readsthe deposit item information from the image and then completes thedeposit transaction, as represented by block 450.

However, if the remote capture device determines that the image is notsatisfactory, then the remote capture device is configured toautomatically prompt the user to reposition and/or adjust the remotecapture device, as represented by block 460. In response to thisprompting, the user repositions and/or adjusts the remote capture deviceto generate another image of the deposit item at the remote capturedevice, as represented by block 470. Thereafter, the process flow 400loops back to block 120, such that the remote capture device isconfigured to automatically determine whether the newly-generated imageis satisfactory for reading deposit item information therefrom. If theremote capture device determines that this newly-generated image issatisfactory, then the process flow 400 branches to block 140B of theprocess flow 400, as described above. However, if the remote capturedevice determines that the newly-generated image is not satisfactory,then the process flow 400 branches again to blocks 460 and 470 forgenerating still another image. Thus, it will be understood that theremote capture device may determine that several images areunsatisfactory before determining that a subsequently-generated image issatisfactory. In other words, in some embodiments, the process flow 400may loop several times from block 120 through block 470 and back toblock 120 until the process flow branches to blocks 140B-450.

Of course, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is merely exemplary andother embodiments may vary without departing from the scope and spiritof the present invention. For example, in some alternative embodiments,if the remote capture device determines that the image is satisfactory,then the remote capture device is configured to automatically capturethe image instead of being configured to prompt the user to capture theimage. Also, the remote capture device may be configured to perform anyof the portions of the process flow 400 represented by blocks 410-440and 460-470 upon or after one or more triggering events, which, in someembodiments, is the performance of one or more of the other portions ofthe process flow 400.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a system 500 is provided for automaticallyanalyzing and/or capturing an image of a deposit item, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, theexemplary system 500 includes a network 510, a remote capture device520, and a deposit server 530. Also shown are a remote capture deviceuser 505 and an image 507 that shows the check 501. It will beunderstood that the check 501 includes the deposit amount 511 of $25,and that the check 501 also includes deposit item information that isnot shown (e.g., information associated with a payee identity, anaccount number, a MICR line, etc.). Also, it will be understood that theremote capture device user 505 has access to the remote capture device520 and to the check 501.

In some embodiments, the user 505 can view, receive, generate, create,acquire, and/or capture the image 507 by using the remote capture device520. In other embodiments, the remote capture device 520 views,receives, generates, and/or captures the image 507 automatically (i.e.,without the user's 505 intervention). In addition, in some embodiments,the remote capture device 520 is exposed to and/or located proximatelyto the check 501 when the image 507 is viewed, received, generated,and/or captured by the remote capture device 520. Also, in accordancewith some embodiments, the remote capture device 520 is located remotelyfrom the deposit server 530.

In addition, it will be understood that, in this example embodiment, theuser 505 intends to deposit the sum of the deposit amount 511 (i.e.,$25) into the checking account 509. Also, the checking account 509 isheld by the user 505 and is maintained by a bank (not shown) for thebenefit of that user 505, who is a customer of that bank. Still further,it will be understood that, in this example embodiment, the remotecapture device 520 is maintained by the remote capture device user 505,and that the deposit server 530 is maintained by the same bank thatmaintains the checking account 509.

As shown in FIG. 5, the remote capture device 520 and the deposit server530 are each operatively and selectively connected to the network 510,which may include one or more separate networks. In addition, thenetwork 510 may include one or more interbank networks, telephonenetworks, telecommunication networks, local area networks (LANs), widearea networks (WANs), and/or global area networks (GANs) (e.g., theInternet, etc.). It will also be understood that the network 510 may besecure and/or unsecure and may also include wireless and/or wirelinetechnology.

The remote capture device 520 can include any remote capture devicedescribed and/or contemplated herein. In addition, the remote capturedevice 520 can initiate, execute, complete, and/or otherwise facilitateany one or more portions of any embodiment described and/or contemplatedherein. In some embodiments, the remote capture device 520 includes oneor more mobile phones, gaming devices, digital cameras, flatbedscanners, and/or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the remote capturedevice 520 includes a communication interface 522, a processor 524, amemory 526 having a remote capture application 527 stored therein, animage capture device 528, and a user interface 529. In such embodiments,the processor 524 is operatively and selectively connected to thecommunication interface 522, the user interface 529, the image capturedevice 528, and the memory 526.

Each communication interface described herein, including thecommunication interface 522, generally includes hardware, and, in someinstances, software, that enables a portion of the system 500, such asthe remote capture device 520, to send, receive, and/or otherwisecommunicate information to and/or from the communication interface ofone or more other portions of the system 500. For example, thecommunication interface 522 of the remote capture device 520 may includea modem, network interface controller (NIC), network adapter, networkinterface card, and/or some other electronic communication device thatoperatively connects the remote capture device 520 to another portion ofthe system 500, such as, for example, the deposit server 530.

Each processor described herein, including the processor 524, generallyincludes circuitry for implementing the audio, visual, and/or logicfunctions of that portion of the system 500. For example, the processormay include a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device,and/or various analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analogconverters, and/or other support circuits. Control and signal processingfunctions of the apparatus in which the processor resides may beallocated between these one or more devices according to theirrespective capabilities. The processor may also include functionality tooperate one or more software programs based at least partially oncomputer-executable program code portions thereof, which may be stored,for example, in a memory device, such as in the remote captureapplication 527 of the memory 526 of the remote capture device 520.

Each memory device described herein, including the memory 526 forstoring the remote capture application 527 and/or other information, mayinclude any computer-readable medium. For example, the memory mayinclude volatile memory, such as volatile random access memory (RAM)having a cache area for the temporary storage of data. Memory may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, which may be embedded and/or may beremovable. The non-volatile memory may additionally or alternativelyinclude an EEPROM, flash memory, and/or the like. The memory may storeany one or more of portions of information used by the apparatus inwhich it resides to implement the functions of that apparatus. Thememory may be non-transitory or transitory.

As shown in FIG. 5, the memory 526 includes the remote captureapplication 527. The remote capture application 527 may instruct and/orcause the processor 524 (and/or one or more other portions of the remotecapture device 520) to perform any one or more of the functionsdescribed herein as being performed by “a remote capture device,” by theremote capture device 520, and/or by the remote capture application 527.Additionally or alternatively, the remote capture application 527 can beexecutable to initiate, execute, complete, and/or otherwise facilitateany one or more portions of any embodiment described and/or contemplatedherein, such as, for example, any one or more portions of the processflows 100, 400, and/or 600 described herein.

For example, in some embodiments, the remote capture application 527 isexecutable to receive and/or generate an image (e.g., the image 507,etc.) that shows a deposit item (e.g., the check 501, etc.). In someembodiments, the remote capture application 527 is executable todetermine, automatically or otherwise, whether an image (e.g., the image507, etc.) is satisfactory for reading deposit item information from theimage (e.g., the deposit amount 511 of $25, etc.). In still otherembodiments, the remote capture application 527 is executable toperform, automatically or otherwise, any one or more of thepredetermined actions represented by blocks 140A-140D and/or thepredetermined actions represented by blocks 150A-150G (and/or any otherpredetermined action described and/or contemplated herein). For example,in some embodiments, the remote capture application 527 is executable toautomatically adjust the remote capture device 520 (e.g., adjust thezoom and/or focus of the image capture device 528, etc.). As anotherexample, in some embodiments, the remote capture application 527 isexecutable to automatically capture an image of a deposit item using theimage capture device 528. As still another example, in some embodiments,the remote capture application 527 is additionally or alternativelyexecutable to credit an account (e.g., the account 509, etc.) based atleast partially on the deposit item information associated with thedeposit item.

In some embodiments, the remote capture application 527 is additionallyor alternatively executable to perform one or more functions other thanthose previously described herein. For example, in some embodiments, theremote capture application 527 is executable to require the user 505 toidentify and/or authenticate himself/herself to the remote captureapplication 527 before the remote capture application 527 will initiate,execute, complete, and/or otherwise facilitate any of the functionsdescribed and/or contemplated herein. For example, in some embodiments,the remote capture application 527 is executable to identify and/orauthenticate the user 505 based at least partially on anusername/password, personal identification number (PIN), smart card,token (e.g., USB token, etc.), biometric information, and/or some otherinformation, device, and/or credential that the user 505 provides to theremote capture application 527. Additionally or alternatively, in someembodiments, the remote capture application 527 is executable toidentify and/or authenticate the user 505 by using one-, two-, ormulti-factor identification and/or authentication. For example, in someembodiments, the remote capture application 527 requires two-factorauthentication, such that the remote capture device user 505 mustprovide the correct smart card and enter the correct PIN in order toauthenticate the user 505 to the remote capture application 527.

It will also be understood that, in some embodiments, the remote captureapplication 527 is executable to enable the remote capture device user505 and/or the remote capture device 520 to communicate with one or moreother portions of the system 500, and/or vice versa. In someembodiments, the remote capture application 527 is executable to accessan electronic banking service (e.g., online banking, mobile banking, SMSbanking, etc.). Further it will be understood that, in some embodiments,the remote capture application 527 is created, provided, controlled,and/or maintained by the bank that maintains the deposit server 530and/or by an individual or business (not shown). For example, in someembodiments, the remote capture device 520 is embodied as an iPhone®,and the remote capture application 527 is embodied as an “app” that wascreated by a bank and/or by a software maker for execution on theiPhone®. Also, it will be understood that, in some embodiments, theremote capture application 527 includes one or more computer-executableprogram code portions for instructing the processor 524 to perform oneor more of the functions of the remote capture application 527 and/or ofthe remote capture device 520 described and/or contemplated herein. Insome embodiments, the remote capture application 527 may include and/oruse one or more network and/or system communication protocols.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is the image capture device 528, which may includeone or more cameras (e.g., digital or otherwise, etc.), charge coupleddevices (CCD), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors,image sensors, and/or the like, including any one or more of the imagecapture devices described and/or contemplated herein. The image capturedevice 528 may include one or more different types of image capturedevices. In some embodiments, the image capture device 528 is configuredto receive, detect, recognize, and/or capture optical light, ultravioletlight, and/or infrared light. In some embodiments, the image capturedevice 528 can be configured to view, receive, acquire, generate,create, and/or capture one or more still images and/or videos. In someembodiments, the image capture device 528 is configured to communicateone or more generated and/or captured images to the processor 524.Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the image capturedevice 528 includes one or more features, including, but not limited to,a zoom, focus, flash, lens, shutter, viewfinder, and/or the like. Insome embodiments, the image capture device 528 has a resolving power,which, for example, defines the detail and/or resolution with which animage can be generated and/or captured by the image capture device 528.

In some embodiments, the resolving power associated with the imagecapture device 528 is measured in the number of pixel sensors (sometimesreferred to merely as “pixels”) used by the image capture device 528 inorder to capture the image. In some embodiments, the image capturedevice 528 is housed in the remote capture device 520. However, in otherembodiments, the image capture device 528 is operatively connected tothe remote capture device 520 but is not housed in the remote capturedevice 520; instead, in such embodiments, the image capture device 528is located adjacent, near, within arm's reach, and/or otherwiseproximate to the remote capture device 520 (e.g., a peripheral digitalcamera plugged into a mobile phone, etc.).

It will also be understood that the remote capture device 520 alsoincludes the user interface 529. It will be understood that the userinterface 529 (and any other user interface described and/orcontemplated herein) can include and/or be embodied as one or more userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the user interface 529 includes one ormore user output devices for presenting (e.g., communicating, rendering,displaying, outputting, etc.) information to the user 505, such as, forexample, one or more displays, speakers, and/or the like. In someembodiments, the user interface 529 additionally or alternativelyincludes one or more user output devices for presenting information tothe remote capture device user 505. In some embodiments, the userinterface 529 additionally or alternatively includes one or more userinput devices, such as, for example, one or more buttons, keys, dials,levers, directional pads, joysticks, keyboards, mouses, accelerometers,controllers, microphones, touchpads, touchscreens, haptic interfaces,scanners, biometric readers, motion detectors, cameras, and/or the likefor receiving information from one or more items (e.g., the check 501,etc.) and/or the remote capture device user 505. In some embodiments,the user interface 529 is housed in the remote capture device 520.However, in other embodiments, the user interface 529 is operativelyconnected to the remote capture device 520 but is not housed in theremote capture device 520; instead, in such embodiments, the userinterface 529 is located adjacent, near, within arm's reach, and/orotherwise proximate to the remote capture device 520 (e.g., a peripheraltouchscreen display plugged into a digital camera, etc.).

FIG. 5 also illustrates the deposit server 530. The deposit server 530may include one or more servers, mainframes, engines, network devices,front end systems, back end systems, and/or the like. In someembodiments, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 5, the deposit server530 includes a communication interface 532, a processor 534, and amemory 536, which includes a deposit application 537 and an accountdatastore 538 stored therein. As shown, the communication interface 532is operatively connected to the processor 534, which is operativelyconnected to the memory 536.

The deposit application 537 may instruct and/or cause the processor 534(and/or one or more other portions of the deposit server 530) to performany one or more of the functions described herein as being performed by“a deposit server,” by the deposit server 530, and/or by the depositapplication 537. Additionally or alternatively, the deposit application537 can be executable to initiate, execute, complete, and/or otherwisefacilitate any one or more portions of any embodiment described and/orcontemplated herein, such as, for example, any one or more portions ofthe process flows 100, 400, and/or 600 described herein.

For example, in some embodiments, the deposit application 537 isexecutable to receive an image that shows a deposit item (e.g., theimage 507 that shows the check 501, etc.). As another example, in someembodiments, the deposit application 537 is executable to read deposititem information (e.g., the deposit amount 511, etc.) from a capturedimage. As another example, in some embodiments, the deposit application537 is additionally or alternatively executable to credit an account(e.g., the checking account 509, etc.) based at least partially on thedeposit item information associated with the deposit item. For example,in some embodiments, the deposit application 537 is executable totransfer funds from a payor account identified in the deposit iteminformation, in an amount identified in the deposit item information,and to a payee account identified in the deposit item information. Insome embodiments, the deposit application 537 can be configured toperform one or more of the same functions previously described herein asbeing performed by the remote capture application 527 (and/or viceversa).

It will also be understood that, in some embodiments, the depositapplication 537 is configured to enable the deposit server 530 tocommunicate with one or more other portions of the system 500, such as,for example, the account datastore 538 and/or the remote capture device520, and/or vice versa. It will further be understood that, in someembodiments, the deposit application 537 is configured to initiate,execute, complete, and/or otherwise facilitate one or more financialtransactions and/or to maintain one or more financial accounts (e.g.,the checking account 509, etc.) stored in the account datastore 538. Insome embodiments, the deposit application 537 includes one or morecomputer-executable program code portions for instructing the processor534 to perform one or more of the functions of the deposit application537 and/or deposit server 530 described and/or contemplated herein. Insome embodiments, the deposit application 537 may include and/or use oneor more network and/or system communication protocols.

In addition to the deposit application 537, the memory 536 also includesthe account datastore 538. It will be understood that the accountdatastore 538 can be configured to store any type and/or amount ofinformation. For example, in some embodiments, the account datastore 538includes information associated with one or more transactions, accounts,account holders, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the accountdatastore 538 may also store any information related to processingimages captured by remote capture devices. In some embodiments, theaccount datastore 538 additionally or alternatively stores informationassociated with electronic banking services.

Also, the account datastore 538 may include any one or more storagedevices, including, but not limited to, datastores, data repositories,databases, and/or any of the other storage devices typically associatedwith a computer system. It will also be understood that the accountdatastore 538 may store information in any known way, such as, forexample, by using one or more computer codes and/or languages,alphanumeric character strings, data sets, figures, tables, charts,links, documents, and/or the like. Further, in some embodiments, theaccount datastore 538 may include information associated with one ormore applications, such as, for example, the deposit application 537. Itwill also be understood that, in some embodiments, the account datastore538 provides a real-time or substantially real-time representation ofthe information stored therein, so that, for example, when the processor534 accesses the account datastore 538, the information stored thereinis current or nearly current. The account datastore 538 can alsodynamically store information, such that the information stored therein(e.g., account balances, transaction information, rules for depositingchecks, etc.) can be quickly and/or immediately added, deleted, changed,revised, updated, and/or the like.

Of course, it will be understood that the embodiment illustrated in FIG.5 is exemplary and that other embodiments may vary. For example, in someembodiments, some or all of the portions of the system 500 are combinedinto a single portion. Specifically, in some embodiments, the remotecapture device 520 and the deposit server 530 are combined into a singleremote capture and deposit device that is configured to perform all ofthe same functions of those separate portions as described and/orcontemplated herein. Likewise, in some embodiments, some or all of theportions of the system 500 are separated into two or more distinctportions. In addition, the various portions of the system 500 may bemaintained by the same or separate parties. For example, in someembodiments, a bank may maintain the deposit server 530, whereas theremote capture device user 505 may maintain the remote capture device520. However, in other embodiments, a bank may maintain both the depositserver 530 and the remote capture device 520.

It will also be understood that the system 500 (and/or one or moreportions of the system 500) may include and/or implement any embodimentof the present invention described and/or contemplated herein. Forexample, in some embodiments, the system 500 (and/or one or moreportions of the system 500) is configured to implement any one or moreof the embodiments of the process flow 100 described and/or contemplatedherein in connection with FIGS. 1-3, any one or more of the embodimentsof the process flow 400 described and/or contemplated herein inconnection with FIG. 4, and/or any one or more of the embodiments of theprocess flow 600 described and/or contemplated herein in connection withFIG. 6.

As a specific example, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, the remote capture device 520 is configured to: (a) receivethe image 507 that shows the deposit item 501, where the receiving theimage 507 is based at least partially on the deposit item 501 beingexposed to the remote capture device 520, as represented by the block110 in FIG. 1; (b) automatically determine that the image issatisfactory for reading deposit item information (e.g., the depositamount 511, etc.) from the image 507, as represented by the blocks120-140; and (c) automatically capture, based at least partially on thedetermining that the image 507 is satisfactory, the image 507, asrepresented by block 140A. In some embodiments, the remote capturedevice 520 is additionally configured to send the captured image to thedeposit server 530 for completing a deposit transaction, where thedeposit server 530 is located remotely from the remote capture device520, as represented by block 440 in FIG. 4. Additionally oralternatively, the deposit server 530 is configured to credit an accountbased at least partially on reading deposit item information from thecaptured image 507, as represented by blocks 650-655 shown in FIG. 6. Itwill be understood that, in accordance with some embodiments, the remotecapture device 520 and the deposit server 530 are each configured tosend and/or receive information (e.g., one or more images, messages,instructions, etc.) to and/or from each other, such that informationsent from a first apparatus to a second apparatus can trigger thatsecond apparatus to perform one or more portions of any one or more ofthe embodiments described and/or contemplated herein.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a mixed block and flow diagram of a system 600is provided, in accordance with a more-detailed embodiment of thepresent invention. It will be understood that the system 600 isconfigured to credit an account based at least partially on a remotelycaptured image of a check. As shown, the system 600 includes a mobilephone having a digital camera 601 (e.g., the remote capture device 520and the image capture device 528 shown in FIG. 5, etc.) and a depositserver 603 (e.g., the deposit server 630, etc.). Each of theseapparatuses can include one or more communication interfaces,processors, memory devices, user interfaces, image capture devices,applications, and/or datastores, as previously described herein. Inaddition, in this example embodiment, the mobile phone 601 is remotelylocated from, but is operatively connected to (e.g., via one or morenetworks), the deposit server 603.

As represented by the block 605, the user of the remote capture device601 initiates a mobile deposit application on the mobile phone and isauthenticated. For example, in some embodiments, the mobile phone 601 isan iPhone®, and the mobile deposit application is an “app” that executeson the iPhone® for initiating, executing, completing, and/or otherwisefacilitating a deposit transaction involving the mobile phone 601. Insome embodiments, the mobile banking application requires the user toidentify and/or authenticate himself. For example, in some embodiments,the user must provide a username/password, personal identificationnumber (PIN), smart card, token (e.g., USB token, etc.), biometricinformation, and/or some other information, device, and/or credential tothe remote capture device prior to that device granting the user accessto the application.

After initiating the mobile deposit application, the mobile depositapplication activates a video function of the digital camera, asrepresented by block 610. As represented by block 615, the user placesthe check for deposit on a flat surface, and as represented by block620, the user holds the mobile phone over the check, such that the checkis exposed to the digital camera. For example, in some embodiments, theuser holds the mobile phone over the check until the digital camera ispositioned orthogonally to the deposit item. As represented by block625, while the user is holding the mobile phone over the check, themobile phone 601 displays video of the check to the user (e.g., via adisplay of the mobile phone 601, etc.). In some embodiments, the videois displayed to the user in substantially real-time, such that the videois displayed to the user as the video is being generated by the digitalcamera. Said differently, in some embodiments, the video shows the userwhat the digital camera sees when the digital camera sees it.

In addition to displaying the video to the user, the mobile phone 601automatically adjusts the focus of the digital camera as the mobilephone is being held over the check, as represented by block 630. Alsowhile the user is holding the mobile phone 601 over the check, themobile phone 601 automatically determines that an image of the checkfrom the video is satisfactory (e.g., for reading information associatedwith the check), as represented by block 635. Further while the user isholding the mobile phone 601 over the check, and as a result of thedetermining that the image is satisfactory, the mobile phone 601automatically captures the image of the check, as represented by block640. Thereafter, as represented by block 645, the mobile phone 601 sendsthe captured image of the check to the deposit server 603 for completingthe deposit transaction. In some embodiments, the mobile phone and/orthe mobile banking application automatically sends the captured image tothe deposit server 603, but in other embodiments, the mobile phoneand/or the mobile banking application automatically prompt the user tosend the captured image. In still other embodiments, the user sends thecaptured image of the check to the deposit server 603 without beingprompted at all.

After receiving the captured image of the check, the deposit server 603is configured to read the information associated with the check from theimage. For example, in some embodiments, the deposit server 603 isconfigured to read the payee name, the payor financial institution, oneor more MICR lines, and/or the written and/or numerical check amountfrom the image of the check. Thereafter, as represented by block 655,the deposit server 603 is configured to credit an account (e.g., achecking account held by the user, etc.) based at least partially on thecheck information read from the image. For example, in some embodimentswhere the check amount shown in the captured image is $65, the depositserver 603 is configured to deposit $65 into a checking account (e.g.,that is held by the payee identified in the captured image).

Of course, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 is merely exemplary andother embodiments may vary without departing from the scope and spiritof the present invention. For example, in some embodiments, the mobilephone 601 is configured to automatically prompt the user to repositionthe mobile phone 601 relative to the check (and/or vice versa) if one ormore of the images of the check from the video are not satisfactory forreading information from the check. In some embodiments, this automaticprompting occurs in addition to, or instead of, the mobile phone 601automatically adjusting the digital camera of the mobile phone (e.g., byfocusing on the check, zooming in on the check, etc.). As anotherexample, in some embodiments, the mobile phone 601 is configured toautomatically prompt the user to capture an image of the check when themobile phone 601 determines that the image is satisfactory. In someembodiments, the mobile phone 601 provides one or more user inputdevices (e.g., touchscreen display with selectable digital buttons,keypad, etc.) that enable the user to capture the image. As anotherexample, in some embodiments, the mobile phone 601 is configured toautomatically prompt the user to input information associated with thecheck (e.g., the check amount, etc.) before and/or after the remotecapture device automatically captures an image of the check. Inaddition, it will be understood that the system 600 (and/or one or moreportions of the system 600) may include and/or implement any embodimentof the present invention described and/or contemplated herein.

Although many embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure willsatisfy applicable legal requirements. Also, it will be understood that,where possible, any of the advantages, features, functions, and/oroperational aspects of any of the embodiments of the present inventiondescribed and/or contemplated herein may be included in any of the otherembodiments of the present invention described and/or contemplatedherein, and/or vice versa. In addition, where possible, any termsexpressed in the singular form herein are meant to also include theplural form and/or vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise.Accordingly, the terms “a” and/or “an” shall mean “one or more,” eventhough the phrase “one or more” is also used herein. Like numbers referto like elements throughout.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in view ofthis disclosure, the present invention may include and/or be embodied asan apparatus (including, for example, a system, machine, device,computer program product, and/or the like), as a method (including, forexample, a business method, computer-implemented process, and/or thelike), or as any combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodimentsof the present invention may take the form of an entirely businessmethod embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, etc.), an entirely hardware embodiment,or an embodiment combining business method, software, and hardwareaspects that may generally be referred to herein as a “system.”Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product that includes a computer-readable storagemedium having one or more computer-executable program code portionsstored therein. As used herein, a processor, which may include one ormore processors, may be “configured to” perform a certain function in avariety of ways, including, for example, by having one or moregeneral-purpose circuits perform the function by executing one or morecomputer-executable program code portions embodied in acomputer-readable medium, and/or by having one or moreapplication-specific circuits perform the function.

It will be understood that any suitable computer-readable medium may beutilized. The computer-readable medium may include, but is not limitedto, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a tangibleelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, and/orsemiconductor system, device, and/or other apparatus. For example, insome embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes atangible medium such as a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM), and/or some other tangible optical and/ormagnetic storage device. In other embodiments of the present invention,however, the computer-readable medium may be transitory, such as, forexample, a propagation signal including computer-executable program codeportions embodied therein.

One or more computer-executable program code portions for carrying outoperations of the present invention may include object-oriented,scripted, and/or unscripted programming languages, such as, for example,Java, Perl, Smalltalk, C++, SAS, SQL, Python, Objective C, and/or thelike. In some embodiments, the one or more computer-executable programcode portions for carrying out operations of embodiments of the presentinvention are written in conventional procedural programming languages,such as the “C” programming languages and/or similar programminglanguages. The computer program code may alternatively or additionallybe written in one or more multi-paradigm programming languages, such as,for example, F#.

Some embodiments of the present invention are described herein withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams ofapparatuses and/or methods. It will be understood that each blockincluded in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and/orcombinations of blocks included in the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, may be implemented by one or more computer-executableprogram code portions. These one or more computer-executable programcode portions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, and/or some other programmable dataprocessing apparatus in order to produce a particular machine, such thatthe one or more computer-executable program code portions, which executevia the processor of the computer and/or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the stepsand/or functions represented by the flowchart(s) and/or block diagramblock(s).

The one or more computer-executable program code portions may be storedin a transitory and/or non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., amemory, etc.) that can direct, instruct, and/or cause a computer and/orother programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the computer-executable program code portions storedin the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufactureincluding instruction mechanisms which implement the steps and/orfunctions specified in the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram block(s)

The one or more computer-executable program code portions may also beloaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data processingapparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer and/or other programmable apparatus. In some embodiments, thisproduces a computer-implemented process such that the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions which execute on the computerand/or other programmable apparatus provide operational steps toimplement the steps specified in the flowchart(s) and/or the functionsspecified in the block diagram block(s). Alternatively,computer-implemented steps may be combined with, and/or replaced with,operator- and/or human-implemented steps in order to carry out anembodiment of the present invention.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments aremerely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, andthat this invention not be limited to the specific constructions andarrangements shown and described, since various other changes,combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition tothose set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate that various adaptations, modifications, andcombinations of the just described embodiments can be configured withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it isto be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

1. A method for facilitating a remote deposit of a financial instrumentusing a remote mobile phone or tablet, the method comprising: acquiringa first image of a deposit item via a camera associated with the mobilephone or tablet; determining, automatically by the remote mobile phoneor tablet, that the quality of the first image is not satisfactory forreading deposit item information from the first image, wherein thedeposit item information is associated with the deposit item; displayinginstructions to a user on the display of the remote mobile phone ortablet for improving the quality of the first image by manipulating atleast one of the deposit item or the mobile phone or tablet; acquiring asecond image of the deposit item via the camera associated with themobile phone or tablet; determining, automatically by the mobile phoneor tablet, that the quality of the second image is satisfactory forreading deposit item information from the second image in response tothe user manipulating at least one of the deposit item or the mobilephone or tablet; storing the second image in the mobile phone or tablet;and sending, by the mobile phone or tablet, the second image to anapparatus located remotely from the mobile phone or tablet, wherein theapparatus is configured to credit an account based at least partly onthe deposit item information shown in the second image.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: capturing, automatically by the remotemobile phone or tablet, the image of the deposit item.
 3. (canceled) 4.The method of claim 1, further comprising: prompting, automatically bythe remote mobile phone or tablet, a user of the remote mobile phone ortablet to capture the image.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: indicating, automatically by the remote mobile phone ortablet, to a user of the remote mobile phone or tablet that the image issatisfactory.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that theimage is satisfactory for reading deposit item information from theimage comprises: reading, by the remote mobile phone or tablet, at leastone of a deposit amount, a payee identity, a signature, or a MICR linefrom the image. 7.-8. (canceled)
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: adjusting, automatically by the remote mobile phone ortablet, the remote mobile phone or tablet.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising: prompting, automatically by the remote capturedevice, a user of the remote capture device to adjust the remote mobilephone or tablet.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:prompting, automatically by the remote mobile phone or tablet, a user ofthe remote mobile phone or tablet to reposition the remote mobile phoneor tablet or the deposit item.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: indicating, automatically by the remote mobile phone ortablet, to a user of the remote mobile phone or tablet that the image isnot satisfactory.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:enhancing, automatically by the remote mobile phone or tablet, theimage.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prompting,automatically by the remote mobile phone or tablet, a user of the remotemobile phone or tablet to enhance the image.
 15. (canceled)
 16. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the deposit item comprises at least one of acheck, a deposit slip, or a money order.
 17. The method of claim 1,wherein the deposit item information comprises information associatedwith at least one of a MICR line, an endorsement, a watermark, anaccount number, a payee identity, a payor identity, a financialinstitution identity, a signature, or a deposit amount.
 18. The methodof claim 1, wherein the acquiring the first image comprises generating avideo, wherein the video comprises the first image of the deposit item.19. (canceled)
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing the secondimage in the captured device occurs no later than approximately oneminute after the generating the second image.
 21. A remote capturedevice for facilitating a remote deposit of a financial instrument, theremote capture device comprising: a mobile phone or tablet configured toacquire a first image of a deposit item via a camera associated with themobile phone or tablet; and a processor operatively connected to themobile phone or tablet and configured to: receive the first image;automatically determine that the first image is not satisfactory forreading deposit item information from the first image, wherein thedeposit item information is associated with the deposit item; displayinstructions to a user on the display of the mobile phone or tablet forimproving the quality of the first image by manipulating at least one ofthe deposit item or the mobile phone or the tablet; acquire a secondimage of the deposit item via the camera associated with the mobilephone or tablet; determine that the quality of the second image issatisfactory for reading deposit item information from the second imagein response to the user manipulating at least one of the deposit item orthe mobile phone or the tablet; store the second image in the mobilephone or tablet; and send, the second image to an apparatus locatedremotely from the remote capture device, wherein the apparatus isconfigured to credit an account based at least partly on the deposititem information shown in the second image.
 22. The apparatus of claim21, wherein the processor is configured to automatically capture thesecond image of the deposit item.
 23. (canceled)
 24. The apparatus ofclaim 21, wherein the processor is configured to automatically promptthe user of the image capture device mobile phone or tablet to capturethe image.
 25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor isconfigured to automatically indicate to the user of the remote mobilephone or tablet that the image is satisfactory. 26.-27. (canceled) 28.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured toautomatically adjust the focus or the zoom of the camera associated withthe remote mobile phone or tablet.
 29. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein the processor is configured to automatically enhance the firstimage.
 30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor isconfigured to prompt the user of the remote image capture device mobilephone or tablet to reposition the remote mobile phone or tablet or thedeposit item.
 31. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor isconfigured to automatically indicate to the user of the remote mobilephone or tablet that the image is not satisfactory.
 32. The apparatus ofclaim 21, wherein the mobile phone or tablet acquiring the second imagecomprises the mobile phone or tablet generating a video, wherein thevideo comprises the second image of the deposit item.
 33. (canceled) 34.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor storing the secondimage in the capture device occurs no later than approximately oneminute after the mobile phone or tablet acquires the second image.
 35. Acomputer program product for facilitating a remote deposit of afinancial instrument using a remote mobile phone or tablet, the computerprogram product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium,wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises one ormore computer-executable program code portions that, when executed by aremote mobile phone or tablet, cause the remote mobile phone or tabletto: acquire a first image of a deposit item via a camera associated withthe mobile phone or tablet; automatically determine that the first imageis not satisfactory for reading deposit item information from the firstimage, wherein the deposit item information is associated with thedeposit item; display instructions to a user on the display of themobile phone or tablet for improving the quality of the first image bymanipulating at least one of the deposit item or mobile phone or tablet;acquire a second image of the deposit item via the camera associatedwith the mobile phone or tablet; determine that the quality of thesecond image is satisfactory for reading deposit item information fromthe second image in response to the user manipulating at least one ofthe deposit item or the mobile phone or the tablet; store the secondimage in the mobile phone or tablet; and send, the second image to anapparatus located remotely from the remote mobile phone or tablet,wherein the apparatus is configured to credit an account based at leastpartly on the deposit item information shown in the second image. 36.The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by the remotemobile phone or tablet, cause the remote mobile phone or tablet to:automatically capture the image of the deposit item.
 37. The computerprogram product of claim 35, wherein the one or more computer-executableprogram code portions, when executed by the remote mobile phone ortablet, cause the remote mobile phone or tablet to: automatically prompta user of the remote mobile phone or tablet to capture the image. 38.The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by the remotemobile phone or tablet, cause the remote mobile phone or tablet to:automatically indicate to a user of the remote mobile phone or tabletthat the image is satisfactory.
 39. The computer program product ofclaim 35, wherein the one or more computer-executable program codeportions, when executed by the remote mobile phone or tablet, cause theremote mobile phone or tablet to: acquire the second image by generatinga video, wherein the video comprises the second image of the deposititem.
 40. (canceled)
 41. The computer program product of claim 35,wherein the one or more computer-executable program code portions, whenexecuted by the remote mobile phone or tablet, cause the remote mobilephone or tablet to: store the second image in the mobile phone or tabletno later than approximately one minute after receiving the image.42.-51. (canceled)
 52. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining, by the remote mobile phone or tablet, whether a MICR lineshown in the first image is within a predefined distance from an edge ofthe deposit item; determining, by the remote mobile phone or tablet, theorientation of the deposit item based on determining whether the MICRline is within the predefined distance; prompting, by the remote mobilephone or tablet, the user to change the orientation or position of thedeposit item.
 53. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructionscomprise instructions for moving the deposit item so that it isorthogonal to the remote mobile phone or tablet.
 54. The method of claim1, further comprising: enhancing at least a portion of the first imageby creating a bi-tonal image of the portion of the first image,correcting the geometry of the portion of the first image, convertingthe portion of the first image to gray-scale, and creating a binarizedimage of the portion of the first image.